Lesson Ten: The Fruit of Self-Control
SU STAI N | 25
SUMMARY: In this lesson we will be talking about the connection self-control has with the power of our witness in the world. We will also talk about the fact that even though self-control is a Fruit of the Spirit, we are expected to do our part in utilizing it to manage our spiritual lives. LEAD-IN QUESTIONS: 1.
Can you recall the last time you felt out of control as a Christian?
2. How is self-control related to our public witness for Christ? 3. Have you ever witnessed or experienced damage done by a Christian who has lost their self-control? 4. Is it possible to teach myself to have self-control, or is this something that the Holy Spirit must give it to me? Explain your answer.
Defining Self-Control
Self-control should not be confused with self-hatred or self-rejection. The “self” is not something evil that must be controlled because it is bad. Rather, the human self is complex, consisting of spiritual, emotional, and physical drives and desires all mixed together. Paul refers to this in 1 Thessalonians 5:23, “May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” To function properly, there must be a proper order where the Spirit controls the mind and the mind controls the body. Thus, we can best show ourselves self-love by learning how to properly control ourselves.
Lack of Self-Control
As we’ve done throughout the series, let’s look at the words the New Testament writers used to define Arguably one of the greatest hindrances to evangelism self-control. Several different words are used in the is the lack of self-control among Christians. Anyone Scriptures to express this idea. They include being of who is been in ministry, or has been associated with sound mind, temperate, or exhibiting self-governing the church for any length of time, has likely had that principles in one’s life. The Greek word translated as cringe moment when they saw a Christian “act out” self-control in Galatians 5:23 (egkrateia), is defined because something didn’t go their way; or they got as “self-control, or the virtue of one who masters his mad about something or someone in the church; or desires and passions, especially his sensual appetites.”27 because they had a strong opinion that they wanted Paul uses this word to describe the kind of self-control to voice regardless of the damage it would do; or they exhibited by athletes in training to win athletic contests. mistreated someone who irritated them. In that moment, “Athletes exercise self-control in all things; they do it to all the Christian love, all the sweet spirit of unity, and receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable all the attractiveness of Christianity went out the door. one.” (I Corinthians 9:25) Another word (sophronos), Truthfully, more damage has been done to the cause of often translated as self-control, is more related to being Christ by out-of-control Christians than any other area sober (serious and thoughtful), having a sound mind, of interaction with secular culture. The problem is that Christians seem no different than non-believers. They and being temperate (moderate). have the same level of morality, they react with the This concept of gaining control over one’s senses, desame anger, the same intolerance, and the same lack sires, or emotions is a consistent theme throughout the of patience as everyone else in society, undermining Scriptures. For example, while warning Timothy about their claim to possess the transforming power of the the kinds of people who will be around at the end time Holy Spirit. Unfortunately, sometimes non-believers (prior to Christ’s return), Paul gives a laundry list of the offer a better model of behavior than some Christians. kinds of wickedness that people will exhibit. He says that they will be “People will be lovers of themselves, lovers In contrast, faithful Christians throughout the centuries of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their have been known for their Counter-Cultural perspective parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, – an alternative view from Secular Culture on life, morals, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers and ultimate things. This was one source of the first of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of persecutions of Christians in the Early Church period. pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of Their unwillingness to participate in pagan customs, godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do and their decisions to boycott immoral pagan events with such people.” (2 Timothy 3:2-5 NIV) The word used made them the target of reprisals by the non-Christian here for “without self-control” is akratais. Thus, lacking public. Similarly, their refusal to acknowledge other self-control is one of the characteristics of the people gods as real caused them to be called atheists and threats to Roman culture. It is little wonder that they that we are told to avoid as the end time draws near. 27 Strong’s Greek Dictionary, εγκράτεια, https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1466/
DISCUSS American culture puts a great deal of emphasis on “being yourself” and “expressing yourself.” How would you answer a critic who claimed that self-control is a bad thing because it stifles and restricts our “true self”?
